Histopathology of the mandibular condyle.

Histological sections of mandibular condyles surgically removed from 40 female and 12 male patients who failed to respond to conservative management of temporomandibular joint related problems were examined. The proliferation, intermediate and cartilage zones were frequently either partly or completely absent in older subjects confirming previously held views of the functional significance of these zones. There was no obvious sex differences in the histological appearance of the condyle and evidence of inflammatory change was rarely seen.